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In Case You Missed It:

Specialists

Updated: January 23, 2017

Published: September, 2005

As medical knowledge has become greater, doctors have formed various specialties. In addition, other health professional fields have been created. Here is some information about physician specialists, and other specialists, and what they do.

Physician Specialists

Physicians that choose to train for a specialty complete additional training. After (typically) 4 years of medical school, they go on to internship and residency, which can take anywhere from 1-5 years (depending on the kind of residency training). Then, they go on for still more training in a specialty, which adds several more years.

After completing training in a specialty, physicians take examinations to become "board-certified" in their specialty. Many of these subspecialties have formal certification requirements. Those who have certificates in subspecialties (such as cardiology) were first certified in a specialty (such as internal medicine).

Below is a listing of specialties and subspecialties that physicians enter, and descriptions of what the specialists do.

Addiction PsychiatryProvide psychiatric care for patients with alcohol, drug, or substance abuse problems and help with the emotional and behavioral consequences. Subspecialty of Psychiatry.

Adolescent MedicineTreat the unique healthcare concerns of adolescents, including physical, psychological, and social issues. Subspecialty of Internal Medicine or Pediatrics.

Allergy and ImmunologyTreat disorders of the immune system such as asthma, eczema, nasal allergies, food allergies, and immunodeficiency diseases.

AnesthesiologyProvide relief from acute and chronic pain and help stabilize a patient's condition during and after an operation or other medical procedure.

Blood Banking/Transfusion MedicineManage the safety and supply of a blood bank, supervise testing to ensure compatibility before blood transfusions, and prepare special blood components such as platelets for transfusion. Subspecialty of Pathology.

CytopathologyDiagnose disease by studying cells obtained from body secretions, scrapings, or aspiration, often to look for evidence of cancer. Subspecialty of Pathology.

DermatologyDiagnose and treat disorders of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair, and nails, such as skin cancers, moles, allergic disorders, and scarring.

DermatopathologyDiagnose and monitor diseases of the skin by examining and evaluating tissue specimens from patients. Subspecialty of Dermatology or Pathology.

Diagnostic RadiologyDiagnose disease using imaging techniques such as x-rays and ultrasound. Subspecialty of Radiology.

Endocrinology, Diabetes, and MetabolismDiagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine system such as thyroid and adrenal gland problems and disorders such as diabetes, pituitary diseases, and menstrual and sexual problems. Subspecialty of Internal Medicine.

Emergency MedicineMake immediate decisions and take action to prevent death or disability in an acutely ill or injured person, usually in a hospital emergency department.

Family PracticePrevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages, incorporating training in surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and geriatrics.

Forensic PathologyInvestigate and evaluate cases of sudden, unexpected, and suspicious deaths; includes coroners and medical examiners. Subspecialty of Pathology.

GastroenterologyDiagnose and treat problems of the stomach, pancreas, intestines, liver, and gallbladder, such as abdominal pain, ulcers, cancer, and jaundice. Subspecialty of Internal Medicine.

Geriatric MedicineDiagnose and treat disorders common in older people. Subspecialty of Family Practice or Internal Medicine.

Geriatric PsychiatryDiagnose and treat the mental, addictive, and emotional disorders of the elderly. Subspecialty of Psychiatry.

Gynecologic OncologyDiagnose and treat patients with cancer occurring in the female reproductive organs. Subspecialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Hand SurgeryDiagnose and treat, sometimes by performing surgery, all structures that affect the form and use of the hand and wrist. Subspecialty of Orthopedic Surgery or Plastic Surgery.

HematologyDiagnose and treat diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph glands, such as anemia, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and leukemia. Subspecialty of Internal Medicine or Pathology.

HospitalistStand in for primary care doctors, when their patients are in the hospital. (Some primary care doctors take care of their patients in their offices, and also in the hospital, when the patients need to be hospitalized. When hospitalists care for a hospitalized patient, they remain in close touch with the patient's primary care doctor.)

ImmunopathologyStudy the cause and prognosis of disease by examining the immunological status of tissues. Subspecialty of Pathology.

Nuclear MedicineDiagnose and treat diseases using radioactive materials called radionuclides, using images of the body taken by means of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans. Subspecialty of Radiology.

Obstetrics and GynecologyDiagnose and treat disorders and conditions of the female reproductive system, including pregnancy.

OncologyDiagnose and treat all types of cancer, often with chemotherapy, and consult with radiologists and surgeons on other treatments. Subspecialty of Internal Medicine.

OphthalmologyDiagnose and treat problems related to the eyes and vision, including vision correction with glasses or contact lenses and treatment of diseases such as glaucoma.

Orthopedic SurgeryDiagnose and treat problems related to the form and function of the muscles and bones of the arms, legs, shoulders, hips, and spine, including disorders present at birth, injuries, and infections.

Otology/NeurootologyDiagnose and treat diseases of the ear and the surrounding bones, including problems with hearing and balance. Subspecialty of Otolaryngology.

OtolaryngologyDiagnose and treat diseases, including cancer, that affect the ears, respiratory system, and head and neck. Has expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Pediatric EndocrinologyDiagnose and treat infants and children who have diseases or disorders such as diabetes mellitus, growth problems, early or late puberty, and birth defects resulting from problems in the hormonal system. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric GastroenterologyDiagnose and treat disorders occurring in the digestive tract of infants and children. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric Hematology/OncologyDiagnose and treat infants and children who have blood disorders, cancer, or both. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric Infectious DiseaseDiagnose and treat infants and children who have infectious diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or tuberculosis that are more complicated than normal childhood illnesses. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric NephrologyDiagnose and treat infants and children who have problems associated with the kidneys and urinary tract. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric OtolaryngologyDiagnose and treat infants and children with disorders of the ear, respiratory system, and head and neck, including problems with speech and hearing. Subspecialty of Otolaryngology.

Pediatric PathologyDiagnose, using laboratory analysis of diseased tissue and body fluids, diseases that occur during fetal growth, infancy, and childhood. Subspecialty of Pathology.

Pediatric PulmonologyDiagnose and treat respiratory diseases in infants and children. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric RadiologyUse imaging procedures such as x-rays to diagnose and treat diseases in infants and children. Subspecialty of Radiology.

Pediatric RheumatologyDiagnose and treat rheumatological diseases of the joints, muscles, tendons, and bones such as arthritis and muscle strains in infants and children. Subspecialty of Pediatrics.

Pediatric SurgerySurgically treat diseases and disorders of infants and children. Subspecialty of Surgery.

PediatricsProvide a broad spectrum of health care for children from infancy to young adulthood, including physical, emotional, and social health; provide preventive health care; and treat disease.

Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDiagnose and treat impairments or disabilities involving muscles, nerves, and other body systems, focusing on restoration of physical, psychological, social, and vocational function.

Plastic SurgeryRepair or reconstruct parts of the body, including the face, hands, breasts, and trunk.

PodiatryFocuses on the preventive care (for example, for diabetics) and treatment of the feet and legs. Podiatrists are doctors that receive four years of training and are licensed to independently diagnose and treat (both medically and surgically) conditions of the feet and legs.

Preventive MedicineFocus on the health of individuals and groups to maintain health and prevent disease, disability, or premature death; may work in public health agencies and large health care systems or with employee groups.

SurgerySurgically treat all areas of the body and provide care before, during, and after surgery.

Surgical Critical CareTreat critically ill people, including injury victims and those who have had surgery, in the emergency department, burn unit, and intensive care unit. Subspecialty of Surgery.

Thoracic SurgerySurgically treat patients with disorders of the chest such as coronary artery disease, lung cancer, and chest tumors.

ToxicologyTreat people who have been poisoned by household or industrial toxins, environmental toxins, and prescription and nonprescription drugs. Subspecialty of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, or Preventive Medicine.

Undersea MedicineDiagnose and treat disorders, such as decompression illness and diving injuries, caused by lower- or higher-than-normal barometric pressures. Subspecialty of Preventive Medicine.

UrologyDiagnose and treat disorders of the urinary tract in men and women and the genital tract in men.

Vascular and Interventional RadiologyDiagnose and treat disease by placing an instrument into an organ or blood vessel, guided by radiologic imaging procedures such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subspecialty of Radiology.

Other Healthcare Specialists

Other healthcare specialists who are not doctors work with doctors in the care of patients. They all receive special training, take examinations, and receive certification in their professions.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)Provide emergency care and transport seriously ill people to hospitals. Various levels of training, with the most highly trained being called paramedics.

Home Health AidesPerform personal services such as cooking, housekeeping, or help with bathing for homebound people.

Daily Health Tip

Know your family medical history

Your family's health can tell you some things about your own. At family gatherings, talk about and write down diseases and conditions that others in your family have. Use tools like the U.S. Surgeon General's "My Family Health Portrait" to build a family medical tree: health.harvard.edu/familytree